Friday of the Nineteenth Week in Ordinary Time
(Joshua 24:1-13;
Matthew 19:3-12)
Curious things are
happening today. Many are renouncing
marriage. Some of these prefer to
cohabitate without committing themselves to another. Others are drawing into themselves, using
pornography and masturbation to satisfy sexual desires, and avoiding the
challenge of intimacy. Jesus addresses simpler situations in today’s gospel,
but his remarks may be applied to today’s experience.
The disciples cannot
be serious when they say, “’…it is better not to marry.’” As trying as divorce may be, people enter
marriage with the hope that the relationship will be satisfactory. But Jesus accepts the remark. He indicates that celibacy is better for
those who choose it in order to work for God’s Kingdom. This is the motive of religious sisters and
priests when they discern a vocation. It
goes without saying that Jesus would not approve of promiscuous
relationships. But he would have
patience with those who fall into the pornography trap. He might see them as at least temporarily
incapable of marriage because they were “made so by others.” He might inspire those who renounce marriage
for the Kingdom to show particular patience for these strayed sheep.
Sex, of course, is a
touchy subject. It is as necessary as
bread for continued life, but it can lead to different kinds of trouble. We should treat it prudently be taking into
account of our feelings and consulting a wise mentor. Important as well is adhering to the
commandments as sexual experiences can easily take us off course.
